It was just one word. But it jumped out like a four-letter vulgarity in a church hymnal: “unfortunately.”

So when Nets guard Jason Kidd put it out there when asked about not being traded to the Lakers, it was noticed. Kidd insisted he was not unhappy at the turn of events. He was asked to react after Kobe Bryant said he would have enjoyed playing with him.

“He’s one of the top players in the league. You can look at it as a positive that you were wanted by one of the best in the league and unfortunately it didn’t work out,” Kidd said. “It was nice to be wanted. You still feel you can compete at a high level but my job is to try to win games in New Jersey.

“There’s not a disappointment,” said Kidd, traded twice before. “You look at it as a positive. There was a team that did want you because there could be a day nobody wants you.”

Some members of the Nets’ organization believe Kidd was disappointed by the failure to trade him, but feel it will be temporary. Once on the court, Kidd’s competitive juices always rise. He stressed that winning games and getting a playoff bid were his only concern, and he backed that with his 84th career triple-double last night, in a 109-96 win over the Kings.

“As a professional, my job is to try to win games so trade or no trade, I’m just concentrating on basketball,” Kidd said.

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Richard Jefferson shot jumpers for 20 minutes before last night’s game, his longest session on the floor since undergoing surgery on his right ankle Jan. 22. “That was the most I did,” said Jefferson, who reported there was no pain afterward but said today will be the real test.

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The Nets’ March 4 game vs. the Sixers in Philadelphia has been removed from ESPN’s schedule and pushed up to a 6 p.m. start from 8 p.m. . . . In the past three games, Eddie House averaged 16.0 points, getting 20 last night. . . . In their past 11 games, when an opponent scores under 100, the Nets are 4-0. When above 100, the Nets are 0-7.